New York City Launches $4M Plan for Modular Public Bathrooms, Starting With West Harlem Site
New York, NY — New York City is launching a new program aimed at expanding access to public bathrooms, committing $4 million to seek modular, high-quality restroom units that officials say can be installed faster and for less money than traditional builds.
City Hall said the New York City Economic Development Corporation will release a request for proposals within the administration’s first 100 days, inviting companies to bid on designing and installing the units. Local outlets reported the pilot could add roughly 20 to 30 modular restrooms citywide, though locations and timelines will be set after bids are reviewed.
The announcement was made in West Harlem at 12th Avenue and St. Clair Place, where Mayor Zohran Mamdani and City Council Speaker Julie Menin signed final approvals for the Department of Transportation to install an automatic public toilet at the site later this year.
A DOT planning document for the West Harlem location describes a free, fully accessible, self-cleaning unit, with maintenance scheduled twice daily and operating hours listed as 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. The document also notes a 15-minute time limit per use and a water-bottle filler attached to the unit.
City Hall said New York has nearly 1,000 public restrooms, with about 70% located in parks. The City Council has also pushed for a long-term strategy with a goal of more than 2,100 public bathrooms by 2035.
For parents and caregivers, the city recommends using NYC311’s restroom map and NYC Parks’ borough-by-borough listings to plan ahead—especially for trips with young children or older relatives.
Next, families can watch for the RFP release and DOT updates on the West Harlem installation via nyc.gov and NYC311.
This article was produced by an education parenting today journalist with the assistance of AI. This is not legal advice. All content is reviewed for accuracy and fairness.
